Shelley Darling with local resident
Shelley Darling, Director, Corporate Communications, Planning, Community Partnerships & Volunteer Services speaks with a local resident at the Crescent Town Flea Market earlier this year. (Photo: MGH)

Community helps shape future of major hospital redevelopment

As a community teaching hospital nestled among residential bungalows in the heart of East Toronto, Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) has continually grown and adapted to the evolving needs of its diverse community.

Early next year, MGH will begin an exciting evolution of its Coxwell campus as a major redevelopment project unfolds and a new eight-storey Patient Care Centre begins to take shape.

Engaging the community and building support

Collaborative communication and support from the community is vital to the success of the hospital's redevelopment project. At every step of the planning process, MGH has worked to engage key stakeholders, consider a broad range of voices, and endeavored to incorporate diverse needs and interests.

One of the ways the hospital has engaged local residents this past spring/summer was by participating in local community events. The redevelopment team attended nine events in five distinct communities and spoke with over 300 residents. Face-to-face interactions with neighbours has helped the hospital to promote awareness and gain understanding of community needs; clarify expectations, and instill a sense of pride and support for the upcoming project.

What you told us

Some of the key recommendations residents shared:

  • Provide a welcoming, inclusive and culturally sensitive environment
  • Create an accessible, well-designed campus
  • Consider ways to minimize the temporary impacts to traffic, parking and surrounding community during construction
  • Acknowledge the importance of green spaces and public amenities
  • Continue to connect and collaborate with community
  • Integrate facility architecture into the look and feel of the existing neighbourhood
  • Maintain heritage features of the current hospital site

These themes, in addition to many others have been incorporated into the plan for the upcoming Ken and Marilyn Thomson New Patient Care Centre project. With the help of the community, MGH will continue its evolution together and continue to provide exemplary care to patients, families and surrounding communities for generations to come. Construction of the redevelopment is on track to begin spring 2018.

For more information about future engagement activities within the community please contact: @email

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